Idrissa Gueye and Romelu Lukaku extended Everton’s unbeaten league run to nine matches to secure a 2-0 win over Sunderland - and ensured another unhappy return to Goodison for David Moyes.

The press box was packed for the 3pm kick-off with common themes running through the match reports in various national newspapers.

Joe Bernstein of the Mail wrote: “Goals in each half from Idrissa Gueye and Romelu Lukaku gave Everton a deserved win to keep them bubbling along nicely in seventh.”

He later added some interesting detail behind the opening goal, writing: “The breakthrough after 40 minutes came from an unlikely source with Gueye more noted for his tackling than goalscoring.

Coleman broke down the right and surprisingly chose to pick out the Senegal midfielder on the edge of the box rather than Lukaku closer in.

But it proved the right decision as Gueye cracked a rising shot with his right foot to net for only the second time in 60 games in English football, the first for Aston Villa against Wycombe in the FA Cup last season.”

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Paul Wilson, of the Guardian, was decidedly unimpressed with what was on offer yesterday.

“So much for mid-season breaks,” he wrote.

“Both clubs here on Saturday took the opportunity to get away recently, Everton for a spot of warm-weather training in Dubai and Sunderland for a perhaps ill-advised jolly to New York, yet neither of them looked fresher or more energised by the exercise.”

He late referred to the period up until Gueye scored as the “grimmest of deadlocks”.

Richard Jolly suggested Sunderland could well be heading for the Championship after this defeat, writing in the Express: “Sunderland have gone from Central Park to Goodison Park this week. At this rate, they are heading for Glanford Park next season.”

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Simon Hughes was in the Goodison press box yesterday for the Independent and focused on Lukaku’s landmark moment.

“On the afternoon Romelu Lukaku equalled Duncan Ferguson’s Premier League goal record for Everton, Ronald Koeman insisted the striker can offer more to his team.

“Lukaku’s strike, which sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sunderland, was his 60th for the club. While Ferguson took 239 games to reach that figure, it has taken Lukaku just 129 games.

“In reaching the target Lukaku also became the Premier League’s joint top scorer this season with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez. There were few platitudes from Koeman, though. Instead, he issued new targets.”